Jeff Gonzalez — Called during roll and marked present.
Jeff Gonzalez — The chair calls on Member Gonzalez next.
Jeff Gonzalez — Thanked the author and related the bill to his experience growing up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Jeff Gonzalez — Asked the author what inspired the bill and whether it neglects rural areas.
Jeff Gonzalez — Responded that the bill does not neglect rural areas and framed it as an inverse of typical resource-prioritization debates.
Jeff Gonzalez — Continued explaining that the bill is about balancing resources and asked where the idea originated.
Jeff Gonzalez — Explained the bill was inspired by the Baldwin Hills Inwood Oil Field and the need to include it in 30 by 30 goals.
Diane Papan — Called during roll and marked present.
Diane Papan — The chair is called for a vote and votes aye.
Jessica Caloza — A member appears to be asking if anyone else wants to speak, though the transcription is unclear ('member of Colosa').
Gregg Hart — Called during roll and marked present.
Gregg Hart — Assembly Member Hart is called and votes aye.
Chris Rogers — Called during roll and marked present.
Chris Rogers — Chris Rogers responded to a colleague’s rural-area concern by saying he represents a rural district too, but disagreed with the framing. He argued that conservation easements should be more equitable and criticized the practice of using conservation dollars to buy land from wealthy owners that is unlikely to be used, while expressing support for the bill.
Chris Rogers — Assembly Member Rogers votes aye.
Sean Claire — Introduced as the committee's science fellow and welcomed to the committee.
Celeste Rodriguez — Not present today; the chair says she is being replaced for this meeting.
AB892 — Announced as pulled from the agenda and not to be heard today.
AB946 — AB 946 is introduced as the author's first bill of 2026 and presented to the committee as a '30 by 30' measure. The author explains that it encourages California's land conservation efforts to recognize the importance of investing in historically underserved urban communities, with a focus on reducing nature poverty in urban areas such as South Los Angeles.
AB946 — The committee discusses AB 946 and moves it do pass to Appropriations. The chair notes it was the only bill heard that day and proceeds to the vote, which results in the same motion being reiterated for AB 946.
Doug Houston — Doug Houston, representing the California Park and Recreation Society, testified in support of the bill. He described local park professionals as important community resources across California and explained that the bill would encourage investment practices that restore and enhance land functionality, creating durable conservation benefits closer to where Californians live and play. He concluded by urging the committee’s support.
Rico Mastradinato — Rico Mastradinato of the Trust for Public Land testified in support of the bill, noting TPL’s long history of creating urban playgrounds and describing a 400-acre decommissioned oil field project in Orange County as an example of the kind of opportunity the bill could support. He added that a site at Englewood may also offer opportunities and emphasized that access to nature is most meaningful when it is within walking distance.
Mark Isaac E. Siege — Identified himself as speaking on behalf of the County of Los Angeles in support.
Tasha Boerner — The chair invited Member Tasha Boerner to speak, and she responded by emphasizing that implementation of 30 by 30 should be equitable across the state and asked to be added as a co-author.
Tasha Boerner — Assembly Member Boerner is called and appears to vote aye.
Heather Hadwick — Heather Hadwick said the bill’s language directs funds toward urban communities, which is a concern for her because she represents one of the most rural areas. She concluded that, for those reasons, she is laying off the bill. A brief follow-up remark praised her as a strong advocate for her district.
David Alvarez — Assembly Member Alvarez is called and appears to vote aye.
Jasmeet Bains — Assembly Member Jasmeet Bains is called during roll call, greeted as the committee prepares to vote, and then recorded as voting aye.
Anamarie Farías — Her name is called in the vote as 'Avila Farías'; likely intended to refer to Assembly Member Farías.
Jeff Gonzalez — Vice Chair Jeff Gonzalez votes aye.
Steve Bennett — Called during roll and marked present.
Steve Bennett — The chair notes that Assembly Member Bennett has already made a motion and a second is already in place, but his additional input will be taken as a third.
Steve Bennett — A member identified as Senator Bennett said the psychological impact of access to green space should not be underestimated.
Steve Bennett — Assembly Member Bennett votes aye.
Jessica Caloza — Called during roll and marked present.